Charges Expected After MORE Police Brutality

Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said yesterday he expects charges to be filed against an officer from the Grove Station for alleged police brutality against a man who was taken into custody last Thursday and later released.

The man was allegedly beaten across his backside while at the station.

Greenslade said the allegation was brought to his attention by activist Rodney Moncur.

Over the Easter holiday weekend, Moncur posted a controversial photo on his Facebook page of the buttocks of the man he said was beaten by police.

“There are lots of things that went wrong in that matter that I am not going to ignore,” Greenslade said.

He spoke with reporters outside the Churchill Building, shortly after he met with National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage.

Greenslade said during that meeting he discussed the possible firing of three police officers whose files are under review.

He said he was able to look at the files of the officers, who are accused of misconduct, over the Easter holiday and said they may face criminal charges.

“Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” Greenslade said. “The point is the matter has been reported, it should be investigated and subsequent to the investigation charges can be brought if there is sufficient evidence if it is sent to a tribunal or to an open court.”

Superintendent Melvin Lundy was recently selected to head the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Complaints and Corruptions Unit.

Greenslade said Lundy’s appointment should expedite investigations into alleged police brutality and misconduct.

He said the unit will have extended hours of operation and aims to ensure members of the public that their claims are being taken seriously.

“When things happen we take action and subsequent to a number of those reports, officers have been interviewed, questioned and in fact charged,” Greenslade said, when asked about the public fury over alleged police brutality.

“Where officers offend against the law, it really causes us a problem with the image of the organization, the credibility of the organization and it shakes public confidence. But what you must understand is the vast majority of our people are hardworking, committed officers.”

An inquest into the death of Aaron Rolle, 20, is currently underway before Acting Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez.

He was found dead in a cell at Southern Police Station, two days after police arrested him at Ross Corner on February 7, for escaping lawful custody.

A pathologist report revealed that Rolle died from a ruptured intestine and internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma to the torso.

The inquiry into the death of 35-year-old Jamie Smith, who died 24 hours before Rolle, has not yet begun.

Smith died of asphyxia, an excess of carbon dioxide caused by abnormal breathing, at the Central Detective Unit on February 8, hours after police arrested him in Nassau Village.

Greenslade promised to provide updated figures on the number of police officers dismissed for misconduct over the past few years.